Brian Caffarey - 6th May 2012

Can the Cards round off a tremendous season by lifting the Surrey Senior Cup on Tuesday evening? Garry Hill’s side enjoyed emphatic wins over the U’s in the league campaign – 5-0 away and 4-1 at home – but it’s hard to believe that Paul Doswell’s side, beaten in the play-off semi-final today by Welling United, won’t push Woking harder in this cup final.

WOKING

Garry Hill’s squad, in contrast to Sutton's, will be well rested, with over a week having passed since their final game of the season, a highly commendable 3-2 away win at Chelmsford City. Garry will have a strong squad to choose from, although he will be without the loan players, who will have returned to their clubs and – in Tom Davis’s case – been ineligible anyway.

The Cards last won this competition as long ago as the 2003-04 season, when they beat Sutton United 2-1. In all, the Cards have lifted the Cup 10 times, whilst Sutton have 15 wins to their credit, including six in a row in the 80s.

Sutton finished in fourth place in the BSBS, with 74 points from 42 games, 23 points adrift of the Cards. In the semi-final play-offs they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Welling United, who meet Dartford in the final. An interview with Paul Doswell in today’s Non-League Paper suggests that there may even have been some relief on Sutton’s part not to have been promoted, given their anxiety about whether they could afford the huge increase in travelling and other costs involved.

Sutton have a large squad with plenty of depth. The experienced Kevin Scriven is the regular keeper. The defence includes player/coach and former Scottish international Paul Telfer and Sam Page, who has League experience with Leyton Orient and also played in the Conference for Rushden and Diamonds. Another former Orient player, Harry Beautyman, has impressed in midfield this season, whilst Tony Taggart is always a danger on the left. Up front, Craig Watkins, who joined the U’s from the Metropolitan Police, has continued to rattle in the goals, notching 16 this season: we clearly did not see the best of him in his spell at Woking. There are plenty of other striking options in the shape of the burly Craig Dundas, Leroy Griffiths, Stefan Payne and Bradley Woods-Garness.

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 5.30pm. £10 for members and £15 for non-members. Phone the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.

By Car

Take the A3 northbound. At the exit for New Malden/Worcester Park, turn off and go left onto the Malden Road (A2043) towards Kingston. Follow this to the next roundabout. Take the first exit onto the Kingston Road (A2043) and Kingsmeadow is a mile on the left.

By Train

Norbiton is the nearest station, within easy walking distance. You can either change at Clapham Junction or Wimbledon. Some possible trains from Woking include: 17.33 (18.22), via Wimbledon; 17.46 (18.37) via Clapham Junction; 18.03 (18.52) via Wimbledon; and 18.17 (19.07) via Clapham Junction. Trains back via Clapham Junction are at 21 and 51 minutes past the hour; at 06 via Wimbledon; and at 36 via New Malden and Surbiton.

Leave the station via the back exit and take the first left onto Norbiton Avenue. Turn right at the end onto Gloucester Road and walk down to Kingston Road. Turn left, and Kingsmeadow is 400 yards on the right.

ADMISSION PRICES

£8 Adults
£4 OAPs and U15s

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Please support the Woking FC Beer Festival on 18-19 May: see the website for more details.